Here’s what I tell students who enjoy this genre of book: This is a great story with great characters and a great plot. You may have to read some of the dialogue out loud because it’s written in cockney, so it’s a little hard to get what they’re saying just by reading it. But I highly recommend it. Be aware you need to stick with it. You can’t quit reading after the first couple of chapters. I promise, it’s worth it.” Everyone who read it has loved it. It is a book about how a back country historical small town in an unknown country. At first I thought it was Louisiana, but the more I read, the more I realized it was probably in England, Scotland, or Ireland. The main character is Briony and she is one of the most selfless main characters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, er, reading. How a girl can go through so much in her life and still turn out the way she has is boggling to me. Billingsley created a one of a kind character in her and I hope there will be more stories to follow although this story did have a pretty final ending and didn’t leave much open for future books, there might have been a glimmer of hope that one could follow.